Since returning from Cambodia three years ago, I have had a heightened awareness of how different people mark time. Some people count away the years by celebrating annual events like New Year's or their birthday; others by counting the days between major holidays like President's Day, Easter, The Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Finally, a few simply ignore time altogether and make each moment their masterpiece. This hub explores some of the ways we in the American culture mark time.

As mentioned in the opening paragraph, many people mark time by counting the days from holiday to holiday. They count down the days of the year by decorating for the various holidays of the year including Christmas and New Year's, Easter, The Fourth of July, Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Some places in the US and around the world have fairly consistent weather patterns. So their inhabitants mark time by the changing seasons like spring, summer, winter and fall (autumn). This is not true in Southern California, but is true in most of the country. Farmers are especially aware of weather patterns. If they do not mark the seasons they will not know when to plant or harvest nor will they know how to manage the rest of their time for getting other chores ot tasks done. In the Northeast they mark time by how the leaves grow and fall off the tree. Many people love to visit the New England area in the fall to see the changing of the leaves from green to warm earth tones.

Students and their parents mark time by the local school calendar. These days with the prevalence of the track system keeping up with the school calendar is not as easy as it was. In the past kids started the new school year in August or September and ended in late May or June. The school year was divided by the Christmas or Winter Break and the Easter or Spring Break. Family vacations were taken in the summer when everyone had a prolonged time off until the new school year began.

Sports fans mark time moving from one sport season to the next. American Football begins in August and culminates with the Super Bowl in late January or early February. Hockey and Basketball begin in October and finish in June while Baseball runs from February or March until October. Some people have children in youth sports leagues. If they have a child in soccer, they mark time by alternating between fall season and spring select; those with kids in baseball count time between spring ball and winter league. My viewing schedule is American Football (both college and professional) the whole season; then College Bowl games; the Super Bowl; March Madness; The Masters Golf Tournament; Little League Baseball; NBA Playoffs; The US Open Golf Tournament; The British Open Golf Tournament; The PGA Championship; and then football again. I do not generally watch major league baseball including the World Series unless a local time is involved (how un-American of me).

 A fairly new cultural phenomenon is marking time from one reality TV show season to another. Admittedly, my family marks time by watching Dancing With The Stars and American Idol. Dancing with the Stars actually has two seasons in a year. Others follow Survival,The Amazing Race, So You Think You Can Dance and or Hell's Kitchen.

Finally, a small few live their lives marking time by personal achievement accomplished from one goal to another. Instead of being passive spectators, these are active participants who work to live their best possible lives at each possible moment. They celebrate life by making the most of it; by attempting to make each moment a masterpiece.